Levetiracetam
(Date: December 2019. Version: 3.1)
This factsheet has been written for members of the public by the UK Teratology Information Service (UKTIS). UKTIS is a not-for-profit organisation funded by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on behalf of UK Health Departments. UKTIS has been providing scientific information to health care providers since 1983 on the effects that medicines, recreational drugs and chemicals may have on the developing baby during pregnancy.
What is it?
Levetiracetam (Keppra®, Desitrend®) is used to treat epilepsy, sometimes in combination with other medicines.
When deciding whether to use levetiracetam during pregnancy it is important to weigh up the potential benefits to your health and wellbeing against any possible risks to you or your baby, some of which may depend on how many weeks pregnant you are. Use of levetiracetam in pregnancy may sometimes be considered necessary to control epilepsy. Your doctor or specialist will help you make decisions about your treatment.
It is recommended that all women taking anti-epileptic medicines also take high dose folic acid (5mg/day) whilst trying to conceive and during the first trimester of pregnancy. High dose folic acid has to be prescribed by a doctor. For more information please see the folic acid bump leaflet.
What if I have already taken levetiracetam during pregnancy?
If you have taken or are taking any medicines it is always a good idea to let your doctor know that you are pregnant so that you can decide together whether you still need the medicines that you are on and to make sure that you are taking the lowest dose that works and only for as long as you need to.
If you have epilepsy it is very important that you do not suddenly stop taking levetiracetam as this could be dangerous. Do not make any changes to your medication without first talking to your doctor.
Because of the normal bodily changes associated with a progressing pregnancy, the dose of levetiracetam may need to be adjusted to ensure that symptoms remain well-controlled. Your doctor may offer ongoing monitoring to determine whether dose changes are required.
Can taking levetiracetam in pregnancy cause birth defects in the baby?
A baby’s body and most internal organs are formed during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. It is mainly during this time that some medicines are known to cause birth defects.
Around 2,500 babies exposed to levetiracetam during pregnancy have been studied in total and, overall, there is no concern of a link with birth defects.
Can taking levetiracetam in pregnancy cause miscarriage or stillbirth?
The likelihood of miscarriage and stillbirth has been studied in only relatively small numbers of women taking levetiracetam. Whilst no concerns of any links have been raised, ongoing research is ideally required to confirm this.
Can taking levetiracetam in pregnancy cause preterm birth or my baby to be small at birth (low birth weight)?
One small study found no evidence of a link between taking levetiracetam in pregnancy and preterm birth, but further research is required to confirm this.
A side effect of levetiracetam in non-pregnant users is that it may cause weight loss. Around 220 babies exposed in the womb to levetiracetam have had their birth weights assessed, with no evidence of an effect on growth in the womb. However, until more research is done to confirm this finding, women who are pregnant and taking levetiracetam may be offered closer monitoring of their baby’s growth.
Can taking levetiracetam in pregnancy cause other health problems in the child?
Withdrawal symptoms at birth (neonatal withdrawal)
Withdrawal symptoms are thought to occur when a newborn baby’s body has to adapt to no longer getting certain types of medicines through the placenta.
Levetiracetam works in a similar way to other medicines that are known to cause neonatal withdrawal and close monitoring of your baby for a few days after birth may therefore be advised if you have taken levetiracetam regularly in the weeks before delivery. Monitoring of your baby may be particularly important if you have taken levetiracetam in combination with other anti-epileptic medicines or medicines that act on the brain.
Learning and behavioural problems
A baby’s brain continues to develop right up until the end of pregnancy. It is therefore possible that taking certain medicines (particularly those that act upon the brain) at any stage of pregnancy could have a lasting effect on a child’s learning or behaviour.
The learning and behaviour of around 200 children who were exposed in the womb to levetiracetam has been assessed, with no strong evidence of adverse effects. Although this is reassuring, much more research is required before we can say whether exposure to levetiracetam in the womb can cause changes in learning and behaviour.
Will I or my baby need extra monitoring?
Most women will be offered a scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy to look for birth defects as part of their routine antenatal care. Pregnant women taking levetiracetam do not generally need extra scans for birth defects but may receive additional monitoring of their baby’s growth. Additionally, women with epilepsy may be more closely monitored during pregnancy to ensure that they remain well throughout and that their baby is growing and developing as expected.
If you have taken levetiracetam around the time of delivery your baby may require extra monitoring after birth because of the risk of neonatal withdrawal.
Are there any risks to my baby if the father has taken levetiracetam?
We would not expect any increased risk to your baby if the father took levetiracetam before or around the time you became pregnant.
Who can I talk to if I have questions?
If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org
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General information
Up to 1 out of every 5 pregnancies ends in a miscarriage, and 1 in 40 babies are born with a birth defect. These are referred to as the background population risks. They describe the chance of these events happening for any pregnancy before taking factors such as the mother’s health during pregnancy, her lifestyle, medicines she takes and the genetic make up of her and the baby’s father into account.
Medicines use in pregnancy
Most medicines used by the mother will cross the placenta and reach the baby. Sometimes this may have beneficial effects for the baby. There are, however, some medicines that can harm a baby’s normal development. How a medicine affects a baby may depend on the stage of pregnancy when the medicine is taken. If you are on regular medication you should discuss these effects with your doctor/health care team before becoming pregnant.
If a new medicine is suggested for you during pregnancy, please ensure the doctor or health care professional treating you is aware of your pregnancy.
When deciding whether or not to use a medicine in pregnancy you need to weigh up how the medicine might improve your and/or your unborn baby’s health against any possible problems that the drug may cause. Our bumps leaflets are written to provide you with a summary of what is known about use of a specific medicine in pregnancy so that you can decide together with your health care provider what is best for you and your baby.
Every pregnancy is unique. The decision to start, stop, continue or change a prescribed medicine before or during pregnancy should be made in consultation with your health care provider. It is very helpful if you can record all your medication taken in pregnancy in your hand held maternity records.
www.medicinesinpregnancy.org